THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Leigh Allen, Marketing Director
(937) 461-3823, ext. 3112

SNAPSHOTS
A Musical Scrapbook

It’s Brand New, It’s Stephen Schwartz, It’s Being Produced in Dayton

DAYTON, OH - September 6 - The first production of the 2007-2008 Eichelberger Loft Season of The Human Race Theatre Company and Victoria Theatre Association is full of old songs by Stephen Schwartz, new songs by Stephen Schwartz, even old tunes from Stephen Schwartz with new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. And the famed composer of such hit shows as Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, and Children of Eden is even going to be here to watch.

SNAPSHOTS has its preview in The Loft Theatre downtown September 20, with the official opening night September 21, and runs through October 7.

The Human Race Theatre is proud to have been chosen by Schwartz for presentation of SNAPSHOTS, The Musical Scrapbook of a couple looking back over their 30-year relationship. The show itself has been almost that many years in the making.

David Stern, who wrote the book, and Michael Schemann first brought the idea for SNAPSHOTS to Schwartz in 1990, but after some preliminary development, the concept was put aside as all involved moved on to other projects.

“Then, two or three years ago, Randy Brenner (director of The Human Race production) was interested in reviving it,” says Schwartz. That set the show off on the road to Dayton.

SNAPSHOTS begins as Sue is about to leave her husband, Dan, and goes to the attic for a suitcase. When he confronts her, they spill the scrapbook of snapshots, setting off three decades worth of memories and getting them to re-evaluate themselves and their relationship. Those memories in turn inspire such well-known hits as ”Popular” from Wicked and “All Good Gifts” from Godspell, as well as lesser-known songs and some that never made it to the stage before.

Dayton’s Sue and Dan are played by Stefanie Morse and Jay Montgomery. Younger versions of Sue are played by Kristy Cates, recently Elphaba in the Chicago production of Wicked, and Denise Devlin. The younger Dan is played by Michael Marcotte and Human Race Resident Artist Scott Hunt, recently seen in Big River.

Brent Crayon is the music director and Steve Orich (Tony-nominated for Jersey Boys) is handling musical arrangements and orchestrations. Karl Christian is the choreographer, Bob Fetterman designed the set. Resident Artist John Rensel is in charge of lighting, Carolyn Ericson designs the costumes, and Gary Scanlon does the sound.

Schwartz will be in Dayton for several days, including Opening Night festivities. He will hold a Master Class workshop at The Loft from 3 – 5:30pm September 20. Registration for the Master Class is $20, payable at the door. Those interested should call Human Race Executive Director Kevin Moore at (937) 461-3823, ext. 3115.

SNAPSHOTS will be presented Wednesday through Saturday nights at 8, Tuesday and Sundays at 7, and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets range from $15.50 to $34 and are available by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630, or at www.humanracetheatre.org.

Loft Season sponsors are The Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation, NCR, Premier Health Partners, NCR, Morris Home Furnishings, the Sam Levin Foundation, and Jim and Enid Goubeaux, with official host the DoubleTree Hotel downtown and official media sponsor ThinkTV. Snapshots is sponsored by Lifestages Samaritan Centers for Women; The Producers’ Circle; MOTOPHOTO; Battelle & Battelle, LLP; Burhill Leasing; Innovative Auctions, Inc.; Jon and Diana Sebaly; and St. Clair Lofts.

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Victoria Theatre Association is one of Dayton’s premier arts organizations, presenting the JPMorgan Chase Broadway Series, the Young at Heart Family Series, the Michelob Ultra Cool Films series, Star Attractions, the Universal 1 Variety Series, and the Physicians for Kids Discovery Series, which features curriculum-enhanced live theatre productions for school children. Victoria Theatre Association is proud of its alliance with the Dayton Opera Association and its collaboration on The Eichelberger Loft Series 1 with The Human Race Theatre Company. Victoria Theatre Association also manages the historic Victoria Theatre, the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, and the Metropolitan Arts Center, which houses The Loft Theatre. Victoria Theatre Association receives funding from a variety of diverse public, corporate, individual and private sources, including the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company presents universal themes that explore the human condition and startle us all into a renewed awareness of ourselves. The company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at The Loft, a 219-seat theatre. In addition to the Loft Series (in collaboration with the Victoria Theatre Association) The Human Race produces for the Fifth Third Broadway Series, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director Kevin Moore, also maintains educational outreach programs for children and adults, guest artists and artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock and The Human Race Conservatory. The new Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center of The Human Race opened in January 2006 to provide a space for extensive theatre education classes and workshops.